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The PhD Course in Earth and Marine Sciences, established starting from the 29th cycle, is part of the programs offered by the Doctoral School of the University of Palermo. This School is responsible for managing the shared activities of the doctoral programs, promoting a cross-disciplinary educational offering and fostering dialogue with institutions and enterprises. Its aims and objectives are detailed in the “Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of the Doctoral School of the University of Palermo.”

Course Objectives

The PhD in Earth and Marine Sciences aims to provide advanced third-level training to a new generation of researchers and professionals in environmental topics related to various sectors of Earth and Natural Sciences. The educational pathway is designed to develop a solid foundation in physical and natural sciences, offering theoretical frameworks for experimentation and environmental problem/system analysis, methodologies for environmental planning and management, and the application of modern technologies for evaluating and mitigating natural risks and anthropogenic impacts.

The program adopts an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together different environmental themes within a unified cultural context. It includes research activities aimed at studying environmental processes and problems within a sustainable development framework. The research fields include:

• Basic Geology: Paleontology, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, Neotectonics and seismic risk, Stratigraphy and Facies Analysis, Marine Geology, Structural Geology, Physical Geography;
• Geomorphology and Applied Geology and Geophysics: Assessment of geomorphological, hydrogeological and seismic risks;
• Marine Ecology: Marine Biology, Nature Conservation, Marine Biological Resources and Aquaculture, Environmental Alterations and Climate Change;
• Geochemistry, Petrography, Mineralogy, Volcanology: Environmental and Isotopic Geochemistry, Volcanic Risk and Monitoring, Volcanic Petrology;
• Mineral Resources and Environmental/Cultural Applications: Deterioration of monuments, frescoes and paintings; mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical analyses;
• Zoology: Evolution of immunity and responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors;
• Animal Sciences and Technologies: Marine and aquatic organism production technologies, product quality and welfare, feed production, and functional food development.

Career Opportunities

The career prospects for PhD graduates in Earth and Marine Sciences are wide-ranging and aligned with both national and international labor market needs. The program’s interdisciplinary nature and integration of basic and applied research allow PhD graduates to acquire advanced and versatile skills sought by public and private organizations, companies, and research institutions.

Graduates naturally find placement in universities and public research institutions such as CNR, INGV, OGS, and ISPRA, as well as in private organizations, both in Italy and abroad. Career paths include research grants, postdoctoral fellowships, and research positions, supported by a high percentage of externally funded fellowships and significant international mobility—evidence of the course’s integration into national and international research systems and responsiveness to the global scientific job market.

Professionally, the PhD prepares highly qualified individuals for roles ranging from geochemical, stratigraphic-structural, and micropaleontological prospecting to cultural heritage restoration and conservation; from environmental impact assessment and management to oil exploration and marine/offshore data acquisition and processing. Graduates also contribute to the management and enhancement of natural and biological marine resources, and to consulting and planning in geological, environmental, and marine contexts.

They may also work in public bodies such as regional departments, municipalities, metropolitan areas, Civil Engineering offices, Civil Protection, ARPA, and protected area authorities, or in institutions dedicated to land management and natural risk prevention and mitigation. The course also fosters entrepreneurial attitudes and freelance professions, particularly for geologists and biologists, through training in project management, technology transfer, intellectual property, and open science.

Another potential career path is teaching in secondary schools, as well as professional training and scientific communication, where the multidisciplinary and digital skills acquired are particularly valued. Annual consultation with stakeholders, the flexible structure of the program, and personalized learning plans ensure the constant alignment of professional profiles with the evolving demands of the job and research market.

Educational Activities

Training activities are expressed in university credits (CFUs) and include specialized courses and disciplinary/interdisciplinary seminars, research and training periods in Italy and abroad, advanced training through research activities, internships with qualified institutions and companies, thesis writing, and participation in conferences and schools. PhD students are required to earn 180 CFUs over three years, averaging 60 CFUs per year.

At the start of each academic year, each PhD student, with support from their tutor and based on the academic calendar published on the doctoral program’s website, prepares a training plan to acquire a minimum of 60 CFUs for the year. The plan includes general and specialized third-level courses, selected according to credit requirements and respecting the average annual teaching hours defined by ANVUR guidelines. This plan can be modified or supplemented during the year with justification and approval from the tutor and program coordinator.

Student progress is monitored continuously by the tutor and any co-tutors throughout the academic and research journey. Annually, the student submits a detailed report of completed activities, co-signed by the tutor and presented to the Academic Board. This report includes all training and research activities, with the corresponding CFUs assigned according to the credit attribution regulations available on the course website. In addition to the written report, students must present their research progress orally each year, which is an integral part of the evaluation for advancement or final examination.

The Academic Board prepares the annual academic calendar before the start of each cycle. This includes a catalog of third-level courses (distinct from undergraduate and master’s courses), delivered by professors and researchers—also from other universities—who meet national scientific qualification standards.

Students can select ad hoc courses relevant to their training path, covering topics such as:

• Chemical-physical data analysis and interpretation;
• Google Earth Engine for Big Data analysis;
• Thermography and interferometry in geomatics;
• Marine exploration technologies;
• Environmental assessment and habitat restoration methods;
• Applied statistics lab using R;
• Geological modeling;
• Marine sedimentary environment characterization;
• Introduction to ecological niche models;
• Thermodynamic modeling of geo-petrological and geochemical systems;
• Seismotectonics;
• Satellite remote sensing;
• Open-source environmental monitoring sensors;
• Statistical methods for environmental control;
• GIS analysis and landform prediction;
• Numerical ecology with R;
• Introduction to AI and Machine Learning;
• Microbial biotechnologies for environment, health, and cultural heritage.

Course attendance and passing the final exam entitles students to earn credits. Courses activate with a minimum of three enrolled students.

The calendar also includes interdisciplinary/transversal seminars organized by the Doctoral School on topics such as:

• Scientific writing and research proposal methodologies;
• Research management and understanding European/international research systems;
• Research result dissemination and valorization;
• Intellectual property and open access to data/products.

The calendar may be updated throughout the year with specialist seminars aligned with doctoral themes and led by high-profile academics, researchers, or professionals from public and private institutions, enterprises, and cultural organizations.

Language and Digital Skills Development

PhD students are required to attend language courses (minimum 30 hours) organized by the university’s Language Centre (CLA) or other universities, reaching at least B2 level in English. Those already at B2 level must use these hours to reach a higher level or learn another language. Courses may also be delivered through e-learning platforms (e.g., Rosetta Stone). CLA also offers free courses on Academic Writing and Conference Papers in English (B2 and C1 levels), specifically for PhD students. Credits are awarded upon obtaining the final certificate.

Digital skills development is achieved by participating in third-level courses involving open-source software (e.g., R, RStudio, QGIS, GRASS GIS, SAGA GIS, Whitebox, Google Earth Pro/Engine) or licensed software provided by the university (e.g., Microsoft Office 365, MATLAB, Simulink). Students may also attend specialized IT courses offered by the university or recognized public/private institutions.

Attendance and completion of language and IT courses, as well as seminar activities, grant the student the corresponding training credits (CFUs) upon receiving the final certificate.